“Life is like a camera, just focus on what’s important and capture the good times, develop from the negatives and if things don’t work out, just take another shot.” ~ Ziad K. Abdelnour ~

“When you focus on problems, you get more problems. When you focus on possibilities, you have more opportunities.” ~ Zig Ziglar ~

If your life seems out of focus, change what you are focusing on and begin again. Today, focus on possibilities and enjoy all the opportunities that present themselves over the next week, six months, year.

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This week, share a photo that represents focus to you. Are you a stickler for getting in close to your subjects and capturing every detail, or do you prefer a more ethereal look that illustrates the sensations of the moment? Or both? And remember, you don’t need a professional camera to consider focus. Using your phone camera can provide an even more interesting approach.

“By celebrating the small stuff and feeling gratitude for it, things you never noticed before will come into focus.” ~ Jane Trumbull, Complaining isn’t a Solution! ~

Isn’t that the truth. When we take time to slow down and celebrate the little things in life we begin to notice more that we can be grateful for and our world begins to expand.

I love getting down on the ground with my camera and seeing the world a little differently through the lens. There is so much beauty in the world if we focus on the gifts of nature.

Walking out of my back door in the fall is such a wonderful treat when the ground is covered in a red blanket of the freshly fallen leaves. I do not touch them until they have shriveled up and turned brown because I love pulling into the driveway to the welcoming sight of the red carpet welcoming me home.

“Take five minutes to center yourself in the morning – set your intention every day.” ~ Oprah Winfrey ~

We can do this every morning as we set our intention for the day. Sit still for a minute or two and set your intention to see something new today or to stop once in a while during the day to change your thoughts. If your mind is always racing this is a good way to allow yourself to learn to relax a little during the day. Eventually you will find peace within the day, even on those hectic days and your mind, body and spirit will thank you.

In the morning stop to notice dew drops decorating spider’s webs, leaves, and flower petals. Just slowing down for those few seconds can can be very uplifting. There is a feeling of magic when carefully observing the morning dew, the trees, birds singing, squirrels playing.

One day I spent an hour sitting in the grass observing bees as they made their way from one spring flower to another. With great patience and still camera I was able to capture a couple of the bees in flight. Love how the world becomes a little out of focus while the bee is captured in flight.

I had a peaceful experience sitting on a beach at Moreau State Park as I watched dragonflies enjoying summer day. Eventually I was successful in capturing a couple of dragonflies in flight. With time, patience, and focus there was peace, calm and success.

If you want to truly ‘see’ your world, slow down and look a little closer. This is true whether with nature, people or a situation. If your mind is out of focus your world will be out of focus and clear thinking is impossible.

Today, stop on your way out the door to take a moment to breathe. If you live in the city stop near a tree in the sidewalk and notice the bark, leaves, colors. If you are passing a flower stand stop to allow your eyes to take in the color. While making breakfast (please make yourself breakfast) pay attention to the colors and textures. Bring everything into focus with your sight, smell, taste, and remember to be grateful.

Look closer at the petals and detail of the flower and stem. Notice the color of your fruits and vegetables. Remember where they come from – the soil of the Earth. Not the grocery store. Notice reflections in puddles. No matter where you live, work, travel give yourself the gift of focus and slow down to see the beauty all around you.

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